Bopanna-Qureshi reach US Open final

NEW YORK - India’s Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi cruised to their maiden Grand Slam final, defeating Argentina’s Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zaballos 7-6(5), 6-4 in the US Open tennis men’s doubles semi-finals.

The 16th-seeded pair, known as Indo-Pak Express, will now play top seeded Americans Mike and Bob Bryan Friday in the championship clash. The Bryan brothers beat Spanish pair Marcel Granollers and Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-4 Wednesday.

Bopanna and Qureshi have been in an irrepressible form this tournament and they are yet to drop a set.

They defeated Bryan brothers in August in Washington, the American duo’s only loss this summer.

Bopanna and Qureshi made their presence felt at the international circuit this year with a streak of solid performances. They reached their third tour-level final last week at the Pilot Pen. They were finalists in Nice and Casablanca earlier in the year. The two captured their first ATP World Tour doubles title in Johannesburg in February.

They also reached their maiden Wimbledon quarter-final this year.

The pair has been getting a lot of attention world over, coming from neighbouring countries which share a turbulent past and frosty relations at present because of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

It is tennis that brought together the two unlikely partners with Qureshi calling Bopanna his “brother from another mother”.

The ambassadors of India and Pakistan were among the sizeable crowd rooting for the two sub-continent players at the Flushing Meadows.

“We are glad that they were here today to watch our match,” Bopanna said.

“I think in the first couple of rounds we felt we played some Americans, and it felt like there were more Pakistanis and Indians than Americans out there. But I’m sure for the Bryans that’s going to be different. But, you know, still I think we will have a fair amount of support there.”

“We are really looking forward to it. New York is a great place to play. Bryans obviously will have the support, but they know we have played enough Davis Cup ties to feel that pressure. You know, being completely against us here, at least we have some support with Pakistanis and Indians coming out and cheering us.

“We just have to block out everyone out there, and, you know, play our game and just focus on the tennis,” said the 30-year-old Indian.

Qureshi, the reticent one, called their run here a dream come true.

“I actually feel like it’s a dream. Last night I couldn’t sleep till 6:00 in the morning, and it’s been a great, unbelievable journey. I can’t thank Rohan enough to be my partner and playing with me. I really feel very lucky to have a partner and friend like him.

Qureshi hoped the successful stint will bring some cheer back for the people at home.

“Pakistan has been going through a lot for the last two or three years from all the terrorist attacks and the flooding now for the last few months and the cricket scandal, also.

“I’m just very happy and proud that I can send positive news back home for people to cheer about. It’s just been an unbelievable journey, and I just hope I keep winning matches for Pakistan and can hopefully get either one of these titles or both titles back home. That would be a great thing,” said Qureshi who also reached the final the mixed doubles with Czech Kveta Peschke.

They play top-seeded Americans Lizel Huber and Bob Bryan.